Tensions flared in court today as the state prosecutor in Julius Malema’s firearm discharge trial dismissed the defence’s sudden claim that key video evidence may be an AI-generated fake. Calling the argument “pointless,” the prosecutor accused the defence of resorting to a desperate tactic with no legal merit.
The footage in question, which appears to show the EFF leader firing a gun into the air during a public event, has been central to the state’s case. The prosecutor noted that the defence had not previously contested the authenticity of the video — in fact, they had relied on the same footage in earlier proceedings.
“The defence cannot now attempt to discredit the very evidence they previously accepted,” he told the court, firmly asserting that the video is real and admissible.
With the trial drawing national attention, this dramatic twist has sparked debate over the role of AI and deepfakes in legal cases — but for now, the prosecution remains confident that their case against Malema stands on solid ground.
